There was a time when layoffs, though painful, had a strange kind of clarity.
A company announced a massive restructuring, hundreds or thousands of people were let go at once, and everyone who remained knew where they stood—for better or worse.
But that world is gone.
Today’s workers are facing something far more unsettling: the era of the “forever layoff.” Instead of one big cut, companies trim staff quietly and repeatedly—tens of people here, a handful there—creating a constant ambient fear that you could be next.
According to new data from Glassdoor, rolling layoffs—small cuts happening repeatedly—are now the most common form of job reduction in 2025. Layoffs of under 50 people make up 51% of WARN Act notices, compared to 38% a decade ago.
This shift has created a workplace climate that’s less predictable, more isolating, and far more emotionally draining than even a traditional mass layoff.
Why Companies Are Choosing Rolling Layoffs
Companies don’t always explain their reasoning, but experts see a few patterns:
Avoiding bad press
Smaller layoffs rarely make headlines, go viral on LinkedIn, or trigger public scrutiny. Instead of one reputational hit, companies opt for months of small cuts that fly under the radar.
Uncertainty about the future
With changing tariffs, shifting economic conditions, and the looming impact of AI automation, leaders simply don’t know how many people they’ll need in the long run.
“Even the nature of the work feels like it’s changing,” said Harvard Business School professor Sandra Sucher. Rolling layoffs allow companies to make adjustments slowly—and indefinitely.
A quieter, more controlled process
Workers describe being laid off alone or in groups of two or three. Melanie Ehrenkranz, who runs the Laid Off Substack, said she hears about “solitary layoffs” constantly:
“I’m talking to more people who were let go in ones and twos… sometimes totally alone.”
It’s not just happening in tech—it’s everywhere.
Why Rolling Layoffs Are So Emotionally Brutal
All layoffs are traumatic, but rolling layoffs inflict a different kind of harm.
1. You lose community
In a mass layoff, you have colleagues to process the shock with.
Rolling layoffs?
You’re sent out the door alone, with no cohort to talk to, understand the situation with, or even say goodbye to.
2. Anxiety spreads among those left behind
The people who remain often live in a state of constant uncertainty.
Who’s next?
Will there be another round?
Is this team shrinking?
Is my role safe?
This fear has a direct impact on performance. Sucher explains that employees who once went “above and beyond” stop doing so. Creativity drops. Risk-taking drops. Engagement drops. People start playing defense—because sticking your neck out feels unsafe.
3. Productivity—the very thing layoffs are meant to fix—gets worse
Ironically, companies often pursue rolling layoffs in the name of efficiency.
But when workers are anxious and disconnected, the organization becomes less innovative and less productive.
It’s a lose-lose cycle.
A New Generation Is Having Its Trust Broken Early
Rolling layoffs are hitting young professionals especially hard.
Take Laura Holland, a 25-year-old San Francisco worker who’s already been through multiple layoffs—one from Google, and another during government cuts. Now she’s juggling pet sitting, dog walking, and coaching youth basketball while job-hunting.
For her, the message from corporate America is clear:
Don’t get attached.
“I now no longer put as much value on my company or my job title… When you get so wrapped up in your job, it can create an unhealthy dynamic, especially amidst layoffs.”
Her story echoes what many Gen Z workers are feeling: the sense that loyalty isn’t rewarded, job security is an illusion, and the traditional corporate ladder isn’t built for them.
She’s now building a career on her own terms as a content creator:
“I can’t be laid off from my TikTok.”
What the Era of Rolling Layoffs Means for Workers
The rise of “forever layoffs” is changing how people think about work and their identities:
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Less attachment to employers
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More emphasis on self-protection and marketable skills
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A shift toward side hustles, freelancing, and creator work
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A general sense that job security no longer exists
And honestly?
It’s hard to blame anyone for feeling this way.
Layoffs are destabilizing enough when they happen once.
When they happen endlessly, quietly, and unpredictably, they reshape not just careers—but trust, motivation, and mental health.